Vida Manglar was born as an interinstitutional and community alliance that we formed together with the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Sinú and San Jorge River Valleys (CVS), as the environmental authority of the Department of Córdoba; the Marine and Coastal Research Institute (Invemar), the NGO Fundación Omacha, Conservation International, the 14 organized community mangrove associations from San Antero, Santa Cruz de Lorica, and San Bernardo del Viento, 3 associations from the local tourism sector, and 2 from the productive sector.
In 2021, the partner institutions signed a framework partnership agreement, in which the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia acts as a witness. This agreement made it possible to define the roles of each entity to consolidate what we are today as a program. The communities, for their part, have been articulated through use permits and other agreements, which strengthen the sustainable management of the ecosystem.
In this way, our partners remain united around mangrove protection, and through the commercialization of carbon credits, an opportunity emerges to help close part of the financing gaps of the protected area of Cispatá Bay, La Balsa, and Tinajones.
Likewise, we envision the inclusion of additional mangrove areas. As part of this process, the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Sucre (CARSUCRE), as the environmental authority of that department, is currently participating in the evaluation of the program’s expansion phase into protected areas located in the municipalities of Coveñas and Tolú.
entity proposing the project before VERRA and link to the global and carbon markets sphere.
regional environmental authority responsible for the management of the DRMI of Cispatá, an area prioritized in the first phase of Vida Manglar.
advisory body to the national government and to Vida Manglar on marine and coastal issues, and in coastal scientific research.
NGO with presence and permanent work in the Gulf of Morrosquillo area, with extensive experience in engagement with local communities and in monitoring associated biodiversity, specifically aquatic mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Since 2021, the Fund for Environmental Action and Children (Fondo Acción) has been the administrator of the resources of the Vida Manglar Fund, to guarantee transparency and proper monitoring of budget execution.
14 organized mangrove associations
within the framework of the program, organized mangrove associations focus on the protection and sustainable management of the forest. In addition, they contribute their traditional knowledge to the monitoring of flora and fauna associated with mangroves and participate in the development of non-forest productive alternatives. Mangrove community members also have the responsibility of safeguarding traditional and community knowledge to ensure the long-term conservation of this ecosystem.
Productive associations
they promote economic alternatives linked to mangroves, but without carrying out forest use of the ecosystem. In this case, two community associations stand out: Asomiel and Apisanantero, producers of honey and other derivatives.
Community ecotourism associations
within this group, Convicompagra and Apracaag are involved, two associations that have implemented ecotourism routes in Caño Grande, in San Bernardo del Viento.
Asocaiman also participates in the program, an association made up of former American crocodile hunters from the municipality of San Antero, Córdoba. Its history is significant, as more than 20 years ago this species was on the verge of extinction in Cispatá Bay due to indiscriminate hunting. However, now turned conservationists, with the support of CVS as the environmental authority, they decided to reverse this situation and formed this community association that transformed hunting into protection.
